New felt project

Today I have been working on a new coffee cozy for a Bodum coffee maker. I told my husband that if I wouldn't start creating something (apart from wrapping Christmas packages and writing cards, and don't forget 'creating' and mothering our son) I would go slightly nuts... During our trip in Vancouver I had looked forward to being back home and being able to felt again. Then it became slightly overwhelming to be home with all the errands that need to be run and Christmas prep. As well, Lief has started to get into more trouble recently, reaching higher, and he is sleeping less during the day, which means less time to create and being on your toes all the time to keep damage to a minimum...

Picture by Loop

Back to the felt project. So last night I started with combining some amazing, sparkly batts from Loop and soft and deep colored Merino roving from Kartehuset in Denmark. I have always just worked with the rovings from Kartehuset, and find they're very high quality, soft, gorgeous colors (in a very large selection). They felt up beautifully. But to combine it with the "Earth Goddess" batts that have sparkly bits of gold in them, makes the end result so very unique. It feels like a night out, dressed up.

Ceramic bead by Brian Eccles

I love Etsy!

This is so much fun! When we came back from our trip to Vancouver, there were quite a few packages from Etsy stores waiting for me. Such a treat to open all of these envelopes to see what amazing creations crafters from all over the world sent.

On the left you see gorgeous handspun yarn by hobbledehoy (Liz), she's a super spinner who works and lives with her Angora rabbit in Pennsylvania. I just love her choice of yarn and colour combinations. Very funky and very soft. I can't wait to get started! In the centre of the couch there's two stunning scarves by Kelgwo, a small textile studio on Chiloe island in the south of Chile. These are a true work of art. Beautiful yarn combinations and raw wool. And on the right some funky fabrics by Lucky Kaeru in Southern California. I can't wait to see what these will end up as.... I guess I'd better get started.

The world becomes a small place on Etsy. It feels good to support fellow crafters and it feels even better to work with their materials. Knitting with Liz's yarn makes for a true craft collaboration.

Maternal Creations

Picture by Jane Wheatley

Thanks to Jane Wheatley I have a few pictures of my table at the Maternal Creations craft fair, which took place at Pomegranate Midwives Clinic in Vancouver (Nov 23-25). So stupid, to not bring my camera, I could have taken so many pictures of all the great work and of the amazing, inspiring, creative Momma's. I'm not sure how everyone does it, combining motherhood and creating such an abundance of high quality work. I couldn't help myself, but had to buy some of each.... Check out Ella's dolls and crowns, she uses beautiful fabrics, Anna's soft and cuddly sewing work (and knitting!) and Jane's inspiring natural Elfin hats, tree stumps and kimono's.

Mieke and I had a fun connection, she's from Prince George and came all the way down to the fair as well. She told me her name is Dutch for Mary, but I couldn't help myself and before I knew it I told her that's not correct. Apparently I now have dismantled the last family secret.... Quite intriguing.

Thank you Lehe, for getting us all together and providing the cozy space of the clinic.

Moss stitch

This is a scarf I'm working on at the moment, using handmade wooden knitting needles by Doug Peake from Evergreen Woodwork in Sandspit, BC. I chose to work this scarf in a moss stitch, inspired by the colours of the yarn. I love the moss stitch, it has a very unique feel and it looks like it's a woven piece. The yarn I'm using comes from hobbledehoy.etsy.com, and is a very soft merino blend, which I'm combining with green and blue mohair yarns as I go.

Felt toque

This is my son Lief wearing one of my new felt toques. He didn't want to pose too long, impatient to get the hat off. "Mom, it's way too warm to wear these inside..."

New Bodum Coffee Cosy's

These are my new felted coffee cosy's for a Bodum coffee maker. They have glass buttons so it can be closed inside the handles of the Bodum. 100% Merino wool and a bit of thread to ensure the top shape stays.

Maternal Creations 2007

This year I'll participate at the Maternal Creations craft fair which will be held at Pomegranate Community Midwives clinic in Vancouver from November 23rd - 25th.

I'll be selling my handfelted baby jackets, coffee cosy's, knitted caps and maybe some scarves.

The only qualification for the show is to be a mother or a pregnant woman. The idea behind this is to recognize that making crafts is a way that women around the world sustain themselves and their families. Locally, women find that they are suddenly without work, either as they go on maternity leave or as they spend important time raising children. Pomegranate Community Midwives likes to offer Maternal Creations to these women as a venue to access the market and sell their hand-made crafts.

www.pomegranate-midwives.com
2647 East Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC